breastbandn.
/ˈbrɛs(t)band/, U.S. /ˈbrɛs(t)ˌbænd/ 1. A band worn around the chest; spec. an undergarment which supports a woman's breasts. rare before late 19th cent.In quot. c1450 in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > clothing for chest or breast > types of > other
breastlineeOE
pectoral?a1439
breastbandc1450
codpiece1577
plastron1883
slendang1885
rabat1975
c1450 (?c1425) St. Mary of Oignies ii. ii, in Anglia (1885) 8 151 She hadde holy drede in herte as a brestbande þat streynid to-gadir hir þoghtes.
1661 A. Symson Wilson's Compl. Christian Dict. (ed. 7) 36/2 Her breast-band, or stomacher.
1884 Science 29 Feb. 248/2 A Tahk-heesh Indian..arranging his head and breast-band for a load.
1931 Classical Jrnl. 27 27 References..in Catullus, Ovid, Martial, Apuleius, and Hieronymus indicate the early and long-continued use of the breast band.
2018 J. Peters in M. P. Futre Pinheiro et al. Cultural Crossroads in Anc. Novel 129 The breastband is charged with eroticism, particularly since a series of erotic representations found among Fourth Style wall-paintings..feature women naked save for a breastband.
2. A piece of harness running across the breast of an animal; spec. a breast collar.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > horse-gear > [noun] > straps
lorainc1290
lingel1460
breeching1515
breastplate1578
martingale1584
rudstay1688
running martingale1747
breastband1783
breast collar1789
rump band1844
check-strap1857
kicking-strap1861
point1875
strapping1882
1783 W. Marsden Hist. Sumatra 94 The carbow..is taught to lift the shafts of the cart with its horns, and place the yoke..across its neck; needing no further harness than a breast band.
1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville I. xiv. 236 Headstall, breast-bands, saddle and crupper, are lavishly embroidered with beads.
1990 J. K. Campbell Dibble Sticks, Donkeys, & Diesel i. 26 The breastband harness places the load against the horse's breast by means of a wide leather strap called the breastband or breast collar.
2001 Scunthorpe Evening Tel. (Nexis) 17 Feb. 8 It was once thought that a breastband of hazel fitted to a horse's harness would protect it from evil spirits.
3. Ornithology. A band of contrasting colour on the breast of a bird.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > parts of or bird defined by > [noun] > coloured band or stripe
fillet1668
eyebrow1738
breastband1819
eyeline1863
1819 Encycl. Londinensis XVI. 86/1 The underpart of the plumage is a composition of brown and dirty white, on which appears the brownish-black collar or breast-band.
1915 C. A. Reed Bird Bk. 166 The toes are not palmated, and the black breast band is wider.
1977 A. J. Prater et al. Guide Identification & Ageing Holarctic Waders 58 In some birds a narrow line above chestnut breastband.
2011 G. Dutson Birds Melanesia 395 Distinctive white underparts with breast-band.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2020; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.c1450